WATER polo teams remembered one of their own with a memorial tournament in Basildon.

Dave Warriner, former chairman of the Basildon and Phoenix Swimming Club, died suddenly of a heart attack last September.

Dave, a communications officer at Southend Council, worked tirelessly for the group, organising matches and training with younger members.

Six senior and five junior teams participated in the tournament in Dave’s honour, with Ipswich winning the junior competition and the Basildon All Stars emerging victorious in the senior event.

Teammate Stuart Noyce, from Basildon and Phoenix Swimming Club, said Dave had been greatly missed and the tournament, held at Basildon Sporting Village, inCranes Farm Road, was a fitting tribute to his friend.

He said: “With 90 players and probably more than 100 spectators, it was a really fantastic memorial for Dave.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a great event.”

In recent years, Mr Warriner was heavily involved in the move to the Sporting Village which required the joining of two clubs.

Thanks to donations from players, both past and present, they raised enough money to commission a trophy cabinet for the team in his honour.

Mr Warriner’s wife Jane attended the water polo tournament in tribute to her husband.

She presented the winning teams with trophies as well as unveiling the new cabinet to the audience.